Revolving mail box post



Jan. 3, 1933. 5. BLAcK 1,893,392

REVOLVING MAIL BOX POST Filed March 15. 1930 Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES JOHN s. BLACK, or JASPER, ALABAMA REVOLVING MAILLBOX ros'r Application filed March 13, 1930, seri ino. 435,612.

This invention relates to a mounting for a mail box, specially in the rural districts, to permit a yielding'or rotary movement thereof in case the same is accidentally struck by the vehicle of the postman, agricultural machinery, or otherwise, to minimize the danger of the same being broken.

Another object is to provide a novel construction which will permit adjustment of the mail box to various heights and which will coact in connection with the yieldable feature to render engagement of the box and disposition thereof in the most accessible position for the postman or collector.

The more specific objects'and advantages will become apparent from the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative D embodiment. In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view showing the improved apparatus in elevation,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, 2

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view according to the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view according to the line 44 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the apparatus taken at a right angle to Figure 1 and showing the mail box and revolving means at one extreme of movement. 7

Referring specifically to the drawing, a post 3, of metal, wood, or any suitable material is suitably anchored as in concrete at 1. By means of eye bolts 2, in combination with bearing blocks rigidly mounts a bearing tube 8 at one side of the post. The bolts 2 are applicable to any of a series of vertical openings 4 in the post, thus enabling adjustment vertically of the bearing tube 8 and parts secured thereto. J ournaled in the tube 8 is a mountlng head 0 A for the mail box. Such head has a vertical shaft or rod 9 having a reduced portion 13 journaled in the bearing sleeve 8. The shaft 9 and sleeve 8 at their meeting edges as at 14 engage on a spiral or inclined plane. A cotter pin 15 or the like is secured to the lower end 13 of the shaft 9 and serves to limit the "turning movement of the shaft 9. since upon turning, the latter will rise vertically because "of'the surfaces 14: and the vertical movement will be limited by engagement of the cotter. pin 15 with the lower end of the bearing sleeve 8. w I A cross arm 16 is rigidly secured in any suitable manner as at 7 to the shaft9 and at v one end carries a mail box as conventionally shown at 10. On the opposite sideof the axis of the shaft 9, a weight 5 is adjustably secured to the cross arm by means of a bolt and elongated slot connection as at 17.

On opposite sides of the cross arm 16, adjacent the mailbox 10, bumpers or bufi'ers 9 are provided which may be of resilient wire or' the like. The buffers will break the force of a blow or impact and tend to protectthe mail box 10 in the event of an object striking 793 V the same. 7 In the use of the device, it is normally in the position shown in Figure 1, but if the cross arm is struck the same will rotate rath- I er than break since the shaft 9 is journaled in the bearing 8. The rotation is less than 360 and for instance to the extent suggested in Figure 5 because the contact is along inclined planes as at 14 and the movement of X n the shaft 9 is limited by the cotter 15. After a turning movement the cross head will tend to gravitate to the normal position of Figure 1 which action is aided by the weight 5.

Various changes may be resorted to pro- V vided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. A

I claim as my invention: 1. A mounting for a mail box or the like, a cross head having a shaft, a fixed bearing sleeve slidably and revolubly supportingsaid 9m shaft, said sleeve and. shaft having shoulders contacting along substantially inclined. planesto aid in limiting the turning move: ment and cause return of the cross head to normal position, and means to positively 9K5? limit the sliding movement of the shaft with respect to the bearing sleeve consisting of a pin carried by the lower end of the shaft and normally disposed below the bearing sleeve, I thepin being engageable with the bearing the sliding movement of the shaft withre post.

sleeve through turning and sliding movement of the shaft.

2. A mounting for a mail box or the like, a cross head having a shaft, a fixed bearing sleeve slidably and revolubly supporting said shaft, said sleeve and shaft having shoulders contacting along substantially inclined planes to aid in limiting the turning movement and cause return of the cross head to normal position, and means to positively limit spect to the bearing sleeve consisting of a pin carried by the lower end of-the' shaft and normally disposed below the bearing sleeve, the pin being engageable with the bearing sleeve through turning and sliding movement of the shaft, a supporting post, eye bolts sur rounding the bearing sleeve, bearing blocks engaged by the sleeve and through which the bolts pass, said bolts being secured to said JOHN s, BL'AcK. 

